2010s Zenith Chronomaster El Primero 38mm Blue 03.2150.400

Here we have a 2010s Zenith Chronomaster El Primero 38mm Blue 03.2150.400 with a curvaceous polished and radial brushed stainless steel case that curves over your wrist with flat-ended tapered lugs, this is a faithful modern interpretation of the Zenith A386 chronograph that was introduced in 1969, and a lug-to-lug length of 46.5mm and a case thickness of 12mm ensure a comfortable fit on your wrist. Polished and brushed surfaces transition with crisp, flowing lines. Down the right side, we have piston-style chronograph pushers and a signed crown, a smooth, polished bezel with a domed sapphire crystal above a dynamic tri-coloured sub-dial chronograph, with a rarer sunburst blue dial. A blue outer Tachymeter scale chapter ring surrounds a white minute track, precisely executed, with applied polished batons; indexes have faceted edges that play with the light as you rotate your wrist. At 3 o'clock a grey 30-minute counter, at 6 o'clock a white 12-hour counter and finally, at 9 o'clock a grey small second counter, at 4.30 a date window, slender polished stainless steel baton hands filled with Super LumiNova are complemented by a bright red chronograph hand complete with Zenith Star counterweight, at 12 o'clock we have the Zenith El Primero motif completes this striking vintage-inspired chronograph. On the reverse, a screwed-down exhibition case back showcasing the stunning automatic Zenith El Primero Cal. 400, 31 jewels, a high-frequency column-wheel movement beating at 36,000 beats per hour with a skeletonised Zenith star rotor. It comes paired with a well-suited aftermarket 19mm strap, and the watch comes with its Zenith presentation box and paperwork, swing tag, and original warranty card, which is unsigned.

This watch is sold with its original Zenith box, swing tag and paperwork; the original warranty card is unsigned. It comes paired with a well-suited aftermarket 19mm strap. The watch is from Circa. 2010s and is in worn, but fair condition, as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The Zenith El Primero is easily one of my favourite chronographs, especially a reference like this one here in 38mm, it looks perfect on and off the wrist. With its striking blue dial and contrasting subdials, it's a design worthy of the legendary El Primero calibre 400, which can be viewed through the exhibition case back. If you have been considering a Zenith El Primero, now is the time to snap this one up and add it to your collection today!

Reference : 03.2150.400/53.M2150
Movement : Automatic Zenith El Primero Cal. 400
Age : Circa. 2010s
Year : Circa. 2010s
Case Size : 38mm
Case Thickness : 12mm
Lug to Lug : 46.5mm
Lugs : 19mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

Zenith was established in 1865 by the ambitious 22-year-old watchmaking prodigy Georges Favre-Jacot. The company established its manufacturing base in Le Locle, a picturesque town in the Swiss Jura Mountains known for its rich horological heritage. The brand gained international recognition in 1909 when the pioneering French aviator Louis Blériot wore a Zenith watch during his historic flight across the English Channel, marking a significant milestone in aviation history. Zenith's watches have adorned the wrists of remarkable adventurers, including the legendary Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. He made history by being the first person to reach both the South Pole in 1911 and the North Pole in 1926. As the company approached its centennial celebration in 1965, Zenith’s designers sought to confront the most challenging technological hurdle facing the watch industry: creating a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement. Their efforts culminated in developing the legendary El Primero movement, which was released in 1969. The El Primero, known for its high-frequency escapement and remarkable accuracy, went into production in 1975 and saw a reissue in 1986. However, the 1960s were turbulent for Zenith due to ongoing litigation regarding naming rights. To navigate through these challenges, the Zenith watch company merged in 1968 with Movado, another respected Swiss brand. This strategic alliance allowed Zenith to leverage Movado’s extensive distribution networks in the United States and stabilise its presence in the market. In 1971, the Zenith Radio Company, which had previously been in conflict with its Swiss counterpart, opted to buy Zenith Watch Company, effectively uniting two entities under the same brand during a challenging period known as the Quartz Crisis. In 1975, Zenith's leadership made the drastic decision to transition entirely to quartz watch production, marking a significant shift in their manufacturing philosophy. This included the controversial decision to destroy all mechanical watch components and blueprints, including those related to the historical El Primero movement. However, thanks to the courageous actions of Charles Vermot, a senior engineer in Zenith’s movement-making department, the company's rich mechanical heritage was saved. Together with a small group of loyal colleagues, Vermot secretly hid the El Primero blueprints and parts in a concealed attic at the factory, preserving them for potential future use amidst the pervasive quartz trend. Vermot’s foresight bore fruit in the 1980s as the market shifted back toward mechanical watches. Prominent brands like Ebel and Rolex reintroduced mechanical chronograph styles, paving the way for Zenith’s revival. The carefully safeguarded El Primero re-emerged as the driving force behind Rolex's hugely successful Daytona series. In 1978, Zenith was acquired from Zenith Radio Company, which is now part of LG Electronics, by Dixi, a company specialising in machine tools based in Le Locle. This transition marked a new chapter for Zenith, which began reintroducing its El Primero-equipped chronograph watches to meet the rising demand for high-end mechanical timepieces. In 1999, Zenith became part of the prestigious LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) group, aligning itself with other luxury brands such as TAG Heuer and Hublot. Even today, Zenith stands out as one of the few Swiss manufacturers that not only produces mechanical watches but also crafts its own movements.